Alarm for signal-lamps.



W. K. SPARROW.

ALARM FOR SIGNAL LAMPS.

APYLIGATION FILED JUNE18.1908.

912,433. Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET L a i0" 25 .76 f 7 Z If a a f I 6 L 1 7 hit 3% 6-,

62mm: uuenm W. K. SPARROW.

ALARM FOR SIGNAL LAMPS.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 18, 1908. 912 433, Patented Feb. 16, 19091 2 SHBETS SHHET Z.

l vi lim eawog luucul'oz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM K. sraasow, OF SOUTH NYAOK, new roan.

ALABI ma airman-Lam's.

loqll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WlLLIAM K. SPARROW,

a citizen of the United States, residin at South Nyack Rockland county, New ork, have invented certain new and useful Iinprovements in. Alarms for Si%ual-Laiiips, of which the following is a fill clear, and exfit y myen i relates to improvements in automatic alarms for signal lamps, such as those employed upon automobiles, in light houses, or in any situation where the lamp or light is not ordmarily visible to onein char e .or responsible thcreior, and the object t ereoi is to provide a device which will serve-tooperate'an audible or visual signah to indicate whether or not the lamp, not ordinarily so in view, is biirnin The preferred embodiment o my invention is indicated in the accompanying drawin s, in which igure 1 is a side elevation partially in section, of a lamp provided with my improvement; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a thermostatic signal-operating device embodyiu the invention; Fig. 3 is a conventional diagram showing the arrangement of the device with the lamp and the operatingcircuits used therewith.

In the embodiment of my invention herein selected for illustration, the device consists ofa thermostat inclosure and protector l,

which may be mounted in a suitable aperture 2 in the cap or chimneytl of the lamp 4. The lam herein shown is that ordinarily em iloyc as a headlight uponuutomobiles an comprises the usual reservoir 5, burner 6 and globe 7.

Referrin particularly to the conventional diagrams s own in Fig. 3, the apparatus in general comprises the lamp 4 to which the thermostat is attached, said lampbeing shown conventionally as mount/ed upon an automobile 4'. Electrical connections ein- 'ployed in the operation of the device: are

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed nine 18, ml. Ifl'lll in. males.

' sired ma nner.

.Shoul burn .too low, t e

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

posite thermal strip cousisti of any desirable thermal eouploof me strips which are unequally :m w. e undert influence of heat. In this eaeefthe couple consists of a brass strip 14 andfa steel strip 15, which are suitably secured together throughout theinlengths by rivets, ogg' haiiy other de- The upper oithe steel strip is bent at 16 to present a. tact surface which cooperates and it: nor j in contact with a contact screw 17, suitably mounted in an insulating plui within the upper extremity of-t tion 12. The upper extremit also of the body portion is screw-t reucle at 19 to receive a nut 20, by me us of which and a collar 21 the device may be secured to the lamp.

An electrical connection 22 here shown as a metal plug, and collar mounted within and upon the insulating member 18, and in which the contact screw 17 is'threaded. provides for connection with the battery through the lead wire 23, which may be connected in any suitable manner in the circuit 8 (Fig. 3). i

e body por- The body portion 12 of the thermostat is grounded through the lamp, and the opposite terminal 24 of the circuit will also be suitably grounded, inthe case of an automobile, 11 on the frame 4 of the machine.

Inthe initial operation of the apparatus, the switch 11 in circuit 8 is'open and the lamp is lighted. The heat of the lamp serves to expand the thermal couple within the thermostat, and owing to the difference in expansion of the strips 14-15, the heat will serve to bend th' couple strip away from contact screw 17, thus breaking the 18 secured circuit 8, it being understood that after the of the lamp, switch 11 is closed. the lam accidentally go out or consequent cooling of the thermal couple will permit the same to a ain resume its normal osition in contact with the contact screw 1 thus again closing the circuit 8 and ringingi the signal ball 10, whereby the o erator'wi 1 be warned 0;! the improper con ition of the lamp. a

In order to vary instrument, the contact screw may be ad justed to any desired position with relat on to the contact surface 16 of the thermal couple and held in means of the binding scope of operation of lightin' such adjustment by the sensitiveness of the I varied within vcry t considerable limits.

i said contact member to effect rubbing con- This adjusting feature also provides for com ensating for an of ti ex )ansionand contraction thereof.

t, will be observed that, the protective casing 1 prevents the deposit of carbon on the contacts and any short-circuiting thereby.

'hilc I have here shown a particular embodiment. of the invention,

and arran cmcnt of parts without in from t K! spirit or scope thereof.

ihat I claim is:

1. It thcrmo electric signalingcomprising a casing, a thermal mounted therein, a contact member adjustable on said casing and insulated therefrom.

a contact face on said couple inclined to said adjustable contact to effect rubbing contact therewith, and a signaling circuitv connected with said couple and cont-art meniher.

2. A t hermo electric connection compri and insulated therefrom, said couple having permanent deflection I 10 thcrmai coup 0, due to the frequent device, couple electrically connectet a contact face at its movable end inclined to tact therewith and an electric circuit connecting said couple and cont act member.

3. A thermo electric connection comprising a casing, a thermal couple mounted therein and having a free end, a contact nu-mhcr adjustable in said casing, said couple haying its free end bent to present an it is to be understood that the same may be varied in details 1 dcpart- 5 inclined contact face to said contact] member to ctl'cct rubbing contact therewith. and an olcctrir circuit; connecting said couple and contact nlcnilwr.

l. tIammo-electric signaling connection mmprhingr a casing, an adjustable electric contact carried within but insulated therefrom. a thermal con )le carried within and with said casing and extending ad'acent said contact, said coup"! baring a contact t'ace arranged at an angle to said contact whereby scnsitir 55,01" cooperation between said parts may be s cured.

at W lLLl AM K. QPARROW.

W itncssca RALPH C. lowELL, CHAS. A. PEARD'. 

